Voltaire asks Michel Lambert to send him Luigi Ferdinando, conte di Marsigli’s Stato militare dell’imperio ottomano. He sends logistical instructions regarding proofs and printing and reminds Lambert that he is expecting an answer regarding a proposed joint publishing venture with the Cramer brothers of Geneva. He asks Lambert to sell the bulkier (folio and quarto) volumes that he left in Paris when leaving for Prussia in 1750. The final line (‘jattends de ses nouvelles’) and the signature (‘v’) are autograph.

Voltaire is sending proof corrections to Michel Lambert, having received the first sheet of his printing of La Henriade, which was eventually to be published as part of Lambert’s 1757 edition of Voltaire’s works. He advises on how the collaboration should proceed and hopes to see the Siècle de Louis XIV soon. The letter is wholly in Villaume’s hand with the exception of the date, which was added by Voltaire.

Voltaire is in Senones undertaking research in the library for his universal history (Essai sur les mœurs). Villaume writes a bibliographic reference at the top of the letter, to which Voltaire appends a quote in Latin, both of which are omitted from published versions of this letter. Voltaire is asking Dupont for information relating to this reference.

This small document is printed with four lines of verse, claimed to have been spoken by Voltaire the day before his death: ‘Tandis que j’ai vecu on m’a vu hautement, Aux badauds effare’s dire mon sentiment; Je veux le dire encor dans le royaume sombre, S’ils ont des prejuge’s j’en guerirai les ombres’. The document features Voltaire’s seal in red wax.